Liquid filling machine



March 1, 1938. J. D. LE FRANK 2,109,489

LIQUID FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept.. 19, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToRvY Yi, 0.

ATroRNEYs March 1, 1938. J D, LE FRANK 2,109,489

LIQUID FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet? March 1, 1938. J. D. LE FRANK 2,109,489

LIQUID FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 19, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 From Source OPGaAsRPessugT-Z l m/ a l Patented Mar. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE LIQUID FILLING MACHINE Application September 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a machine for filling cans with liquids that have a tendency tofoam and has particular reference to devices which minimize foaming of the liquid passing into a can, passages in the devices being automatically purged of any foam which may have accumulated during the filling of a preceding can.

An object of the invention is the provision of a liquid filling machine having a filling head adapted to receive a can to be filled with a liquid and also having devices for venting the can, during the filling operation, into a closed reservoir containing the liquid. This liquid is held under a fluid pressure above atmospheric pressure which is created in a head space above the liquid and the can is charged, before iilling, with a fluid under pressure which is directed through the venting passageways to blow out or purge them of any liquid or foam which may have accumulated during the filling of a preceding can, thereby preventing the trapped liquid or foam from. being injected into the can under fill which action minimizes foaming of the liquid during filling.

Another object is the provision in such a filling machine of devices for establishing a direct communication through the venting passageways between the can interior and the reservoir head space'after the can is charged with the pressure fluid so that the liquid or foam purged from the venting passages is carried over into the reservoir, the establishing of the communication effecting a conflux of the can and reservoir head space fluids and also effecting a balancing of their pressures so that the liquid will now from the reservoir under the pressure of its hydrostatic head and with a gentle flowing action as the liquid enters the can,

A further object is the provision of a liquid filling machine of this character wherein cans to be filled are vacuumized, before they are charged with the fluid under pressure, to prevent dilution of the pressure uid in the reservoir head space, and to further prevent contamination of the liquid in the reservoir when cornmunication is later established between the reservoir head space and the can interior.

Another object is the provision of such a liquid filling machine wherein the pressure fluid previously charged into a can to be filled is caused to flow, during the filling operation, from the can directly into the reservoir head space as it is displaced by the filling liquid, this feature conserving the fluid and maintaining a substantially 19, 1935, Serial No. 41,311

constant pressure on the liquid remaining in the reservoir. u

Still another object is the provision, in a filling head for such a machine, of devices for venting the can during its filling and for trapping and retaining against dripping, any liquid or foam which may be carried over into the venting devices at such time.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary part elevation, part Vertical sectional view of one unit of a can filling machine embodying the instant invention showing the valve in an initial position with all ports closed;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of the valve showing it positioned for the vacuumizing step;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the valve taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the machine unit shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along the line 5 5 in Fig. 1;

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are fragmentary vertical sections of the valve taken substantially along the respective lines A-B, A-'l and A-8 in Fig. 5 as regards the stationary parts of the valve body and sho-wing the movable part of the valve positioned in the respective figures for filling the vacuumized can with pressure fluid, for balancing off with the reservoir head space, and for the liquid filling step;

Figs. 9, l0 and 11 are horizontal sections of the valve taken substantially along the respective lines 9--9, lll-lll, Il-Il in Figs. 6, 7 and 8; and

Fig. 12 is an inverted plan section taken substantially along the line l2--l2 in Fig. 'l and looking up in the direction of the arrows.

In the machine unit illustrated in the drawings as a preferred embodiment of the invention, empty open top cans a are positioned on a vertically movable support located under a valve controlled filling head. The filling head is secured to the side wall of a reservoir which contains the liquid to be filled into the cans. This reservoir is designed for holding the liquid under a fluid pressure above atmospheric pressure and is particularly adapted for liquids having foam forming tendencies when agitated, such as beer, ale,

carbonated Waters and any liquids having like characteristics.

The can is lifted vertically so as to bring its top flanged edge into engagement with a resilient sealing ring located in the bottom of the filling head (Fig. 1). rIhis ring seals off the can interior.

While the interior of the can is sealed off a valve in the lling head is rotated into certain positions for establishing predetermined communications with the can interior. The first of these (Fig. 2) opens the can interior to a suitable source of vacuum which vacuumizes or exhausts the air from the can.

'I'he second position of the valve (Fig. 6) causes a fluid under pressure to be introduced into the can which creates a pressure therein above atmospheric pressure and preferably in excess of the pressure in the reservoir head space above the liquid. This fluid may be of any suitable character which will not contaminate the filling liquid. The fluid is preferably the same as that with which the liquid is charged or the same as generated by the liquid. In the case of beer, ale or carbonated waters this fluid is preferably carbon dioxide. y

A further rotation of the valve cuts olf the fluid pressure communication and establishes direct communication (Fig. '7) between the can interior and the reservoir head space above the liquid. This permits the fluid under pressure in the can to ow directly into and to mix with the fluid in the reservoir head space until the can pressure and the reservoir pressure become balanced. This direct communication feature greatly simplifies the construction and operation of the machine and renders unnecessary intricate pressure equalizing systems and mechanism while at the same time permitting the use of a pressure iluid which beneficially reacts on the liquid being filled.

While this equalized pressure condition prevails the valve is turned to another of its positions (Fig. 8) which establishes communication between the can interior and the liquid in the reservoir. At the same time communication between the can and the reservoir head space above the liquid is maintained. This causes the liquid in the reservoir under pressure of its hydrostatic head to flow into the can against the iluid pressure therein. The filling action is quiet and the liquid flows gently and with minimum foaming, the liquid being directed against the interior side wall of the can to assist in this quiet filling.

While the filling takes place the liquid rising in the can displaces the fluid and forces it over into the reservoir head space through venting passageways in the lling head. In this manner the iluid charge is preserved against loss and is utilized to augment the reservoir pressure above the liquid and to maintain substantially a constant pressure on the liquid notwithstanding the increasing head space formed by the liquid being drawn out.

In order to insure that the can is completely filled the liquid is permitted to rise into the filling head and the vent passageway to substantially the level of the liquid in the reservoir. Thus when the valve is closed the liquid in the vent passageway above the valve is trapped and the liquid in the vent below the valve is held captive by capillary attraction in a suitable trap provided in the lower end of the vent. This prevents dripping of the liquid from the head after a filling operation.

When the can is iilled a final step rotation of the valve (Fig. l) cuts oil the flow of liquid. This completes the valve cycle. The filled can is now removed from the filling head and lowered to its original position by descent of its support and may then be discharged from the machine in any suitable manner.

At the next lling operation the passageways retaining the residual liquid, left when the final valve position is reached as has just been described, are purged or blown out so that undesirable liquid or foam will not be introduced into the next can before the actual filling liquid enters. The lower vent is purged during the vacuumizing of the can interior, the vacuumizing operation causing the captive liquid to be drawn out with the air.

The upper vent is purged by the flow f the pressure iluid from the fluid lled can before its liquid iilling, the establishment of communication between the can and the reservoir head space causing the trapped liquid to be carried over into the reservoir. It is partly for this purpose that the pressure fluid is introduced into a can to be lled.

The illustrated preferred form or embodiment of the instant invention comprises in part a vertically movable support or lifter pad I I (Fig. 1) for supporting the can a to be filled with liquid. The lifter pad is mounted on the upper end of a vertical rod I2 which is raised and lowered by any suitable means. The rod is carried in a bearing I3 formed in a bracket Ill which extends laterally from a main frame I5.

A can when positioned on the lifter pad II is directly under and in vertical alignment with a lling head unit I6 (Fig. l). This head comprises a substantially cylindrical body I 'I (see also Fig. having a rear extension I8 which is secured to one side of a reservoir I9. The reservoir is supported by the main frame I5 and is sealed off or closed by a cover plate 2I.

The reservoir contains the liquid to be lled into the positioned can through the medium of the filling head unit. This liquid is held under fluid or gas pressure introduced into the head space above the liquid in the reservoir in any suitable manner as through a pipe 22 (Figs. 1 and 4). This pressure minimizes the foaming of the liquid while it is in the reservoir.

The positioned can is lifted by its lifter pad Il so as to bring its top ilanged edge into engagement with the bottom of the filling head I6 as shown in Fig. 1. The top of the can is clamped against a sealing ring 23 of rubber or like resilient material which hermetically and temporarily seals off the can interior.

The sealing ring surrounds the lower end of the head body I'I and is held in position by a sleeve 24. The upper end of the sleeve threadedly engages an annular shoulder 25 of the head body. At its lower end the sleeve is formed with an internal annular shoulder 2S which engages against a tapered bottom or can engaging end of the ring 23.

While the can is thus held against the lling head certain actions attending the filling of the liquid into the can are effected and are controlled by a rotatable valve 32 (Fig. 1) which is carried in the head. The valve is tapered and is vertically disposed in the head body Il in a tapered seat 33 formed therein. The upper end of th-e valve extends above the head body and is connected by a tongue and groove connection 34 to an enlarged lower end of a vertical Valve shaft 35.

This shaft is carried in a bearing 36 formed on a bracket 31-which is bolted to the side of the reservoir i9.

The valve 32 is intermittently rotated in its seat 33 by an indexing device associated with the valve shaft 35. For this purpose the upper end of the shaft carries a star wheel 4I (Figs. l and 4) having a plurality of equally spaced laterally extending iingers 42. These iingers are individually engaged for turning the valve through its diiferent positions by corresponding actuating fingers 43 which are secured to a continuously rotating horizontal gear 44.

The gear 44 is carried on a vertical shouldered stud 45 which is threadedly Iengaged in the reservoir cover plate 2l. The gear is turned in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 by a meshing pinion 46 which is pinned to a vertical drive shaft 41. At its lower end this shaft is carried in av'bearing 48 formed in the reservoir cover 2|. The shaft is rotated continuously in any suitable manner.

In the first valve position where the vacuum is drawn on the can interior a segmental vertically disposed shallow port 5! (Figs. 2 and 3) formed in a side of the valve, connects one end of a horizontal upper channel 52 with a parallel lower channel 53. The channel 52 (see also Figs. l and 5) is in communication with a short horizontal passageway 54 disposed at right angles and connecting with a pipe 55 threadedly secured in the side of the body extension. This pipe leads to any suitable means for creating a vacuumgsuch as a pump, reservoir or the like.

The channel 53 connects with a passageway 56 which extends down through the head body I 1 and opens into the can interior. Thus when the valve is in this rst position air trapped in the can and in the filling head passageways exposed to the atmosphere during the placing of the can in the head and liquid and foam retained in the vent passageways below the valve port 5I are all drawn out through the pipe 55.

In the second position of the valve the carbon dioxide or other uid is introduced under pressure into the vacuumized can. For this purpose a valve port 51 (Figs. 6 and 9) formed in the side of the valve and slightly below the port 5|, connects the end of the channel 53 with one end of a lower horizontal and parallel channel 58. The opposite end of this latter channel communicates with a short horizontal passageway 59 disposed at right angles and connects with a pipe 66 which is threadedly secured in the side of the body extension adjacent the vacuum pipe 55.

'Ihis pipe 6B is a supply pip-e from any suitable source of carbon dioxide or other fluid which is introduced under pressure into the can by way of the pipe, the passageway 59, channel 53, port 51, channel 53 and passageway 56. The pressure created in the can by the .fl-ow of fluid through these passageways and channels is preferably greater than the fluid pressure in the reservoir above the liquid, a difference of two pounds being usually suicient in the case of beer.

In the third valve position a shallow valve port 6l (Figs. 5, '7 and l0) connects the ends of parallel upper and lower vent channels 62, 63 formed in the valve body extension I8. This establishes direct communication between the can interior and the space above the liquid in the reservoir i9.

The channel 62 connects with a similar channel 64 formed in the side wall of the reservoir and this in turn connects with a vertical passageway 65 which at its top leads out into an opening 66,

form-ed in the reservoir Wall. This provides communication with the interior of the reservoir. The channel 63 (Fig. 7) communicates with the upper end of a vent passageway 61 which opens out into the can interior.

A grooved plug or trap 68 (see also Fig. 12) is located in the bottom end of the passageway 61 being formed with a plurality of surface grooves or flutes 69 which permit liquid, foam or gas to freely pass into the Vent passageway 61 from the can during a lling operation but block return to the can of liquid or foam which may have passed the trap. The iiutes 59 are so small that capillary attraction holds such liquid or foam in the vent passageway and prevents it dripping back into the can.

When communication is established between the can interior and the reservoir, as in the third valve position under considerati-cn, the carbon dioxide from the can, being under a greater uid pressure than that in the reservoir above the liquid, sweeps through the trap flutes 69 and connecting vent channels and valve ports into the reservoir head space.

This action carries the trapped liquid or foam back into the reservoir and delivers it on top of the liquid therein. Thus the venting channels are purged before lling liquid into the can and at the same time the can and reservoir head space fluids are brought into direct confluent contact which results in adirect pressure balance between the can and the reservoir. In this way the can is prepared for lling.

For this filling operation the Valve 32 is turned to bring a port 1l (Figs. 1, 8 and 11) into register with liquid conduits 12,13 located between can and reservoir. These conduits are formed in the head body extension I8, conduit 12 opening into the can and conduit 13 joining with a conduit 14 formed in the reservoir side wall adjacent its bottom. This latter conduit is open to the liquid in the reservoir.

The liquid ilows through the conduits and valve port by reason of the pressure of its hydrostatic head. As it passes from the open end of theconduit 'E2 and into the can it flo-ws against the side wall of the can and this together with the balanced iiuid pressure in can and reservoir, causes the liquid to flow quietly and gently.

During this passage of the liquid into the can the vent channels remain open and uid from the can is vented into the reservo-ir as it is displaced by the entering liquid. This is effected by a Valve port 11 which is identical with the port 6I and spaced horizontally from the latter and which was brought into register with the ends of the vent channels 62, 63 when the port 6| was shifted out of register during the last valve movement.

'This venting back causes the fluid as it passes from the can to take the place of a substantially equal Volume of the liquid as it is withdrawn from the reservoir. Thus the reservoir pressure is maintained substantially constant.

When the can is completely lled with liquid and the liquid level in the lling head has reached its highest level the Valve 32 is turned into its iinal position (Fig. l) completing its cycle. This last valve movement cuts off communication between all the channels and conduits. AThereafter theV iilled can is removed from the iilling head by the lowering of its supporting lifter pad Il and may then be discharged therefrom in any suitable manner.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will -be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. In a machine for filling liquids into cans, the combination of a sealed reservoir containing a filling liquid which is maintained under pressure of a gas, a filling head cooperating with said reservoir and adapted to receive a can to be liquid filled, gassing means for introducing a gas from a source separate from said reservoir into a said can while in said head, said latter mentioned gas being under a pressure greater than the gas pressure in said reservoir, means in said filling head for providing a connection between the gas filled can and the gas space in said reservoir to balance the two pressures, said means being adapted for opening communication through said head for the reservoir liquid to flow gentle into said balanced pressure can.

2. In a machine for filling liquids into cans the combination of a sealed reservoir containing a filling liquid which is maintained. under pressure of a gas, a lling head cooperating with said reservoir and adapted to receive a can to be liquid lled, means for vacuumizing a said can while in said head, gassing means for introducing a gas from a source separate from said reservoir into a said can while in said head and under a pressure greater than the gas pressure in said reservoir, a conduit in said filling head for providing a connection between the gas filled can and the gas space in said reservoir to balance the two pressures, and liquid lling means for opening communication through said head for the reservoir liquid to ilow gently into said balanced pressure can.

3. In a machine for filling liquids into cans, the combination of a sealed reservoir for containing a gas charged filling liquid which is maintained under pressure of a gas having the same characteristics as the gas in the liquid, a lling head cooperating with said reservoir and adapted to receive a can to be liquid lled, gassing m'leans for introducing into a received can from a source separate from said reservoir, a gas having the same characteristics as the gas in the liquid and under a pressure in excess of the gas pressure in said reservoir, a conduit for establishing direct communication through said filling head between said gas lled can and said reservoir to balance the can and reservoir pressures, and a second conduit constituting liquid lling means for gently filling said can with liquid from said reservoir by Way of said lling head.

4. In a machine for filling liquids.l into cans, the combination of a sealed reservoir containing a filling liquid which is maintained under pressure of a gas, a filling head cooperating with said reservoir .and adapted to receive -a can to be liquid filled, gassing means for introducing a gas into a said can from a source separate from said reservoir to create in said can a pressure in excess of the gas pressure in said reservoir, conduits in said filling head for permitting gas from said can to sweep from the gas iilled can to the .gas space in said reservoir to purge said conduits of any liquid and foam remaining from a previous ll and to also balance the two pressures, and liquid filling conduits for opening communication through said head for the reservoir liquid to flow gently into said balanced pressure can while simultaneously maintaining said gas connection between can and ieservoir so that gas from the can flows into the reservoir space as it is displaced by the liquid entering the can,

5. In -a machine for lling liquids into cans, the combination of a sealed reservoir for containing a filling liquid which is maintained under pressure of a gas, a iilling head cooperating with said reservoir and adapted to receive a can to be liquid lled, gassing means for introducing a gas from a source separate from said reservoir into a can while in said lling head, said latter mentioned gas being introduced under a pressure in excess of the gas pressure in said reservoir, conduits for establishing direct communication through said lling head between said gas lled can and said reservoir to balance the can and reservoir pressures, and an additional conduit constituting liquid filling means for gently filling said can with liquid from said reservoir by way of said lling head while venting the can into said reservoir, and means in said filling head for trapping therein liquid and foam entering the venting and filling conduits.

6. In a machine for lling liquids into cans, the combination of a sealed reservoir containing a filling liquid which is maintained under pressure of a gas, -a filling head cooperating with said reservoir and adapted to receive a can to be liquid lled, means for vacuumizing a said can while in said head, gassing means for introducing from a source separate from said reservoir a gas into said vacuumized can, to create a pressure in excess of the gas pressure in said reseivoir, a conduit in said lling head for providing a connection between the gas lled can and the gas space in said reservoir to balance the two pressures, and anA additional conduit constituting liquid lling means for opening communication through said head for the res-ervoir liquid to flow gently into said balanced pressure can while simultaneously maintaining said gas connection between can and reservoir so that gas from the can flows into the reservoir space as it is displaced by the liquid entering the can, which action restores the gas pressure in the said reservoir space to prevent pressure diminution by reason of the removal of the liquid from the reservoir.

7. In a machine for filling beer into cans, the combination of a sealed reservoir containing beer which is maintained under pressure of carbon dioxide gas, a filling head cooperating with said reservoir and adapted to receive a can to be iilled, gassing means for introducing carbon dioxide gas from a source separate from said reservoir into ra said can while in said head, said latter mentioned gas being introduced under a pressure greater than the gas pressure in said reservoir, a conduit in said lling head for providing a connection between the can and the gas space in said reservoir to balance the two pressures, and an additional conduit constituting liquid lling means for opening communication through said head for the beer to flow gently into said balancedpressure can from said reservoir.

JOHN DANIEL LE FRANK. 

